Electrolytic cell



March 24, 1931. J, N SMITH ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Sept. 29

. upper edges of the diaphragm itsedges' Passed Mu. 24, i931" f UNITED'STATES POBATION `l' PENNSYLVANIA PATENT 'OFFICE iiLnCrnonYriC CELLApplication led September 29, 192B. Serial No. 309,282.'V

This invention relates to electrolyticA cells,

more particularly to cells used in the electrolysis of water.

lThe object of the invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangement of the diaphragm whereby the anodic and .cathodicgases-rising from the respective electrolyzing zones of the cell will bepreventedfrom intermingling v"and will be directed,

1 each within its own compartment.

This I accomplish, generally, by bringing together and sewing orotherwise sealing the to, form an enclosure over the upper portions ofthe electrodes. By this arrangement the gas generated on one side of thediaphragm is vprevented from mingling with the gas generated on theother side ofthe diaphragm.

If, in addition to closing over the upper 9 edges of the individual loos of the phragmfsaid edges are infol ed so as to/ini Cline the upperlooped portions of the diaphra the said vrespective gases will bedirecte away from the intruding areas of the electrodes and within theirproper chambers.

`Other features of the invention will appear from the description of theillustrative embodiment ofthe invention shown in the accompanyingdrawing. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross-secd tionthrough a portion of the diaphragm and its support; i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view, somewhat relation ofthe'diaphragm and:t e'electrades; I

Fig. 3 is anl isometric, somewhat schematic -viewrshowing-the manner inwhich the diaphragm is woven through the supporting plate and the upperportion thereof infolded and sewn or otherwise fastened together at Fig.4is a detail side view of a clamp; Fig. 5 is a front view of said clamp;and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal crossf'section of an p' electrolytic cell, atabout the middle ofthe cell,lillustratin'g the general arrangement ofthe electrodes and diaphragm in the cell.

The electrolytic cell, shown and described herein for-the purposes ofillustration only,

dieprammatic, showing the relative ositionv '.3'5 an is provided withendplates 1 and 2, insulated from each other and .of opposite, polarity.Supported b and projecting into the cell from the en plates 1 and 2, area series of electrodes, 3 and 4, extending alternately from theendplates 1 and 2, respectively, in

' um NonirAN sierra, C11I 'ronoN'rd oN'rAnro, CANADA, AssIeNon., BYirrisNn Asmammina, To wEs'rINerioUsE ELECTRIC a MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Acoia-A opposite directions. Each of these electrodes preferablycomprises a group of separate elel ments each having a central passagefor the gas and electrolyte. The electrodes interleave, one group ofelements adjacent the other, and a continuous, pervious diaphragm 5 isdisposed and extends s'inusoidally between adjacent electrodes,separating the saine, as shown in Fig. 6.

The upper part of the diaphragm 5 lis woven through notches 6 in thelower portion of an intermediate supporting plate 7 mounted in the upperpart of the cell, in themanner indicated at a in Fig. 3. A number ofclamps 8, each havig oiset claws 9 (Figs. L1-5), are mounted on thesupporting' plate 7 in position to clamp the lateral portions 10 of thelooped portions 11 of the diaphragm 5 `Fig.'3), tightly closing this topportion -to l prevent the intermingling vofthe gases generated oneitherside. of the diaphra Also, the top portion of the loop of theY iaphragmmay be infolded, as shown at d in Fi 3, also in Fig. 1, as indicated at14'.

is rinfolding of the diaphragm forms iiiclined top portions, 15-15, ofthe diaphragm on both sidesof the plate 7.

An alternative method of constructing the dia hragm is to infold theunsewn edges 12 andp then secure the inclined folded ed esl5-151the`reof together, by clipsor stitc es 16, indicated at -e in Fig.3..

Theelectrodes 3 and 4 are then into the respective loops of thediaphragm 5 alternately from oppositesides of the intermediate plate7,as s own in Figs. 2, 3 and 6.

It will b seen that the intermediate supporting plate-,7, together withthe diaphragm at the upper portion thereof between the ,75.

rising above the electrodes and diaphragm,.

mingle with the gas generated on the opposite side. By closing thediaphragm over the upper ends of the electrodes on opposite sides of theintermediate plate, as shown and described, intermingling of the gasesand leakage between the chambers is prevented.

In addition, because of this manner of infolding, the gases areconducted from the upper ends of the yelectrodes within their properchambers. i l

The intermediate plate 7 with the slots 6 through which the diaphragm iswoven and the clamping members 8 which secure the upper edge of thediaphragm to the plate 7 between the slots serve to support thediaphragm in suspended position and, as pointed out, the diaphragm isheld tightly against the intermediate plate. This, together with thesewing of the infolding, renders the upper portions of the diaphragm gastight.

The method of securing the side portions of the diaphragm 5 to thedownwardly pro- 'ecting portions 7 of the plate 7, is shown in s manychanges could. be made in the above construction and many apparentlydifferent embodiments of my mvention designed without departing from thespirit of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claims, Iintendthat all matter contained in the above description or shown-in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative merely of anoperative embodiment of my invention and not in a limiting sense.

e Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an electrolytic cell having oppositely disposed electrodes, amedial supporting plate positioned above said electrodes, and a loopeddiaphragm suspended therefrom 1and having closed to portions enclosingthe upper portion of t e inner ends of each Jof said electrodes. l

2. In an electrolytic cell having interleaved electrodes, a' supportingplate positioned above said electrodes, and a sinusoidal diaphragm havina plurality of closed top portions suspen ed therefronrand clampedthereto, saidl diaphragm being positioned between adjacent sides andsubstantially enclosing the upper ends of said electrodes.

3. In an electrolytic cell having oppositely disposed electrodes, asupporting platepositioned above said electrodes, and a diaphragm havinginwardly inclined and closed top portions arranged to successively andalternately electrodes to substantially enclose the same. v

5. An electrolytic cell comprising end plates, electrodes of oppositepolarity extending therefrom and into said cell in interleavedarrangement, a notched supporting plate traversed by a continuoussinusoidal diaphragm, extending through said notches and forming loopson either side of said plate enclosing the sides and top of saidelectrodes, and means for securing said diaphragm to said supportingplate. v

6. yIn an electrolytic cell having interleaved electrodes, a slottedsupporting plate extending transversely of and above said electrodes, a.diaphragm woven through said slots to form looped sections extending inopposite directions, enclosing the sides and top portions of saidelectrodes and means for securing said diaphragm to said plate, saidelectrodes being disposed Within said loops.

7. In an electrolytic cell having interleaved electrodes of oppositepolarity, a slotted supporting plate, a diaphragm Woven through saidslots to form looped sections adapted to embrace and separate adjacentelectrodes, said loops extending in opposite directions, and the upperedges of said loops being closed to substantially enclose saidelectrodes, and means for securing said diaphragm to said plate. l

8. In an electrolytic cell having interleaved' electrodes of oppositepolarity, a slotted supporting plate, a diaphragm woven through saidslots to form looped sections adapted to embrace and separate adjacentelectrodes, said loops extending in opposite directions, and the upperedges of said loops being closed and infolded to substantially enclosesaid electrodes, and means for securing said diaphragm to said plate.

9. A continuous, pervious, looped diaphragm adapted to be positionedbetween alternate electrodes and having the upper edges of the loopsbrought together and infolded, forming a plurality of closed topportions.

10. An electrolytic cell vcomprising a series 'of electrodes alternatelyextending inwardly in opposite directions, a supporting plate positionedin and extending across the upper portion of the cell above andtransversely to said electrodes, a continuous diaphra m suspended yfromsaid plate and exten ing on either side thereof sinusoidally betweenadja- A cent electrodes, the upper edges of said diaphra-gm being closedover the upper ends of the electrodes projecting on opposite sides ofsaid plate.

Signed at Toronto, Province of Ontario, in the county of York andDominion of Canada, this 17th da of Se tember A. D. 1928.

